Dear Grant Thank you for your fascinating email. I hadn't considered the DNA route. What would be the next step if we wanted to investigate further? As far as I know my family are the only BENNETTs in South Africa originally from Fontmell Dorset. I am forwarding your email to Will Stevens in the UK who has made a thorough research of the Fontmell BENNETTs. We have recently discovered that we are related through our g-g-g-grandparents. My father who is still alive, aged 84 is directly descended through the male Fontmell BENNETT line. Where are your BENNETTs originally from, England or Ireland? I expect you know the history of the BENNETTs in Hampshire/Dorset/Wiltshire with their Norman roots and allegiance to William the Conqueror. Best regards Cheryl Johnson nee Bennett South Africa ----- Original Message ----- From: <GWJCAL@aol.com> To: <BENNETT-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, February 23, 2003 9:19 PM Subject: Re: [BENNETT] researching BENNETT Fontmell, Dorset/Ringwood (Moortown), Hamps... > In a message dated 2/23/03 12:43:55 AM Pacific Standard Time, > iti05248@mweb.co.za writes: > > > I look forward to hearing from any of your subscribers who may have any > > information that may be helpful. > > > You have the start of a very interesting surname study. You can use DNA to > answer the question of the relatedness of those male BENNETTs. In simplest > terms, the BENNETT name and the Y chromosome both passed from a male BENNETT > to his sons. Mutations on the Y are rare (about 1 every 40 generations or 1 > every 500 to 1,000 years.) Because of that connection between surname and Y > chromosome several labs are now offering DNA test for genealogist. Oxford > Ancestors is in England and Family Tree DNA is in the US. There may be one in > South Africa but I've never heard of it. You would need a group of males who > descend from the BENNETTs you listed. > > If you have more questions send me an e off list. I'm not an expert but I > recently discovered that for me, reading about the science of DNA is more > interesting than reading another microfilm census records. My Bennett's were > initially spelled BENNETTE and I can't find any pre 1800 records. They were > in Georgia in the Southeast US at that time. > > Grant W. Johnston, Chico, CA > > > ==== BENNETT Mailing List ==== > BENNETT Resources at RootsWeb - add your Bennett webpage link! > http://resources.rootsweb.com/~clusters/surnames/b/e/BENNETT/ > List Manager's address BENNETT-admin@rootsweb.com > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 >